Proxy

Twenty

The very next day was full of surprises. First, I woke up with petals scattered all across the bed leading to the terrace where a smooth, round rock was laying on a center table.

Downstairs, it said.

Chuckling, I draped a shawl across my bare thighs and tied it on my waist. I was only dressed on a shirt he left the other night. The bed still smells like him.

Second, I felt positive though I had no idea why. But I have this fuzzy feeling that something's going to happen soon.

I found another rock but way even bigger.

At the swing, it instructed.

And third, I got a text from Savannah telling me what kind of a b*tch I am for 'stealing' her husband with me to Bora-Bora BUT she also sends me her love and hopes that we'll be making her an Aunt when we get back home which was weird, after all, because she's like... married to Clay right now.

I left my phone on a fruit basket and went outside.

I snorted and ran all the way to the beach, laughing, where Clay was lounging on a matted swing in the middle of two large coconut trees holding a single Lily on his left hand and a camera on the other.

"What's this for?" I asked, not bothering to ruin the mood that he set up. His eyes travelling all over my body as if seeing it for the first time.

"I... I know last night could mean nothing to you. I was drunk and an idiot for falling for it and I'm sorry." His words were sincere. I can also see it in his eyes.

But I didn't speak. I just smiled like an idiot I was.

"So I have this flower not just for an apology but for, er--- something else." I couldn't help but notice that his hands were fidgeting as he struggles to say his words.

"What is it?" I smiled, doing my best to hide my excitement. It's like I'm going to burst in any second now. Like a walking time bomb.

"I know I've been the worst person to you in highschool and I haven't been the best person that I am so far. Every time I look at you, I kept on falling hard all over again. But when I see that scar on your forehead and the other invisible ones that I've caused, I couldn't help but feel guilty about it. I changed you from who you were. You were a Bible Girl. You've always been. But I ruined you."

"No, you didn't."

I inched my way closer to him until we seem to be breathing the very same air. I closed my eyes and counted to three.

One...

Two...

Three...

"This isn't a dream?" I asked as a pair of hazel eyes filled my vision. That kind of stare that makes me feel like I'm the only woman on Earth.

"No, Baby." He said.

"Then it's about time." I said, kissing him again as he handed me the Lily. "You were asking me out, right?"

"Yes, I am. Harley De Rio, will you officially be my girlfriend?" He beamed.

"Yes, Barclay Marksons."

"One request, though." He said.

"What?"

"Can't I kiss the soon-to-be-birthday girl for real? Because last time I checked, you always initiated the first move. Let me be a guy here." He laughed.

"Okay, okay, you. Gosh! I can't believe I forgot! I should've been married already at thirty and it'll be on two weeks!" I placed a hand on my mouth.

"Hey, hey, hey. That's why I'm here, right? Can't we wait a little longer until Savannah's contract is up?"

"I've already waited for years, Clay. Surely I'll handle a few more months."

For a few more minutes, we just stood there, grinning and enjoying the view like a bunch of highschool kids in a summer fling, when suddenly, our little moment was ruined by some slow clapping coming from another direction oblivious to us.

A figure appears.

"What a romaaaaaaantic setting." He says bitterly.

And as usual, Philippe arrived with 8 of his minions and two of them instantly grabbed me away from Clay as three of them pinned him on the nearest tree and used the strings of the swing as a bind.

"Philippe! Let go of her! Clay barks at him but he just waved him off and had his men practically drag me away from our own little paradise.

I ended up being dumped on a King-sized bed on a dark room with lots of naked photos of girls. I can't believe what I'm seeing right now.

"You are MINE, Harley. Mine! And nobody steals what is MINE!" He snarled. I whimpered and curled myself into a ball like I could somehow protect myself from this filthy psycho.

"And tonight, you will be. Just you wait, ma Cherie. Just you wait." He touches a small strand of my hair and tugs it harder so that I looked upward, facing him.

The men he ordered to kidnap me were ordered out but I saw a few of them inspecting me as if checking me up for an auction.

I have never felt so terrified before in my entire life.